Interstitial Lung Disease

The MHRA has approved nerandomilast for the treatment of adults with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). Nerandomilast is an oral, preferential phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) inhibitor with immunomodulatory and antifibrotic effects. The approval was supported by positive phase 3 FIBRONEER trial data demonstrating a slower decline in lung function compared with placebo.

With multiple national and international meetings taking place throughout the year, deciding which conferences to attend isn't always straightforward. While scientific programs are an important consideration, opportunities for networking, collaboration, career development and practical learning can be just as valuable. To help identify the meetings making the biggest impact across respiratory and pulmonary medicine and related specialties, we asked members of the touchRESPIRATORY community their non-negotiable conferences and what makes them worth attending.

Join us as leading experts discuss key data and perspectives from ATS 2026 The American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2026 International Conference brought together the latest research and clinical insights across respiratory medicine, highlighting advances in diagnosis, treatment and patient care. In this ...

The American Thoracic Society’s annual conference was held in Orlando, Florida from May 15-20, bringing together global experts in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. Across the week, attendees shared new research and clinical advances through scientific sessions, abstract presentations, and collaborative discussions aimed at improving respiratory care and patient outcomes. In this interview, Dr Jean Elwing (University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA) breaks down the key presentations, sessions and abstracts from the conference, highlighting the substantial progress made in the field and the challenges that still remain

Respirology Reflections is our new, expert-led, practice pearls series delivering concise, actionable insights from leading experts in respiratory and pulmonary medicine. Designed to help healthcare professionals stay current, it highlights real-world challenges, emerging evidence, and actionable strategies to enhance clinical practice, strengthen decision-making, and build confidence in an increasingly complex and fast-evolving field.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) encompasses a heterogeneous group of disorders that pose significant challenges for clinical trial design, from patient selection to endpoint definition and global implementation. Despite advances in therapeutic development, translating trial findings into real-world benefit remains difficult, particularly when study populations and protocols do not fully reflect the complexity of routine clinical practice. As part of our Respirology Reflections series, Dr Tejaswini Kulkarni discusses practical strategies for designing more inclusive and pragmatic ILD trials, including patient selection, recruitment, endpoint choice, and aligning study protocols with real-world care.

Fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) remain difficult to treat due to their clinical heterogeneity, variable trajectories, and an increasingly complex therapeutic landscape. As part of our Respirology Reflections series, we spoke with Prof. Girish B. Nair to discuss early treatment initiation, selecting and sequencing antifibrotic or immunosuppressive therapies, evaluating response and duration, managing side effects, and addressing comorbidities and disease variability over time.

The PROLIFIC Risk Score, a multi-biomarker blood test for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), recently reached a major milestone as the first IPF biomarker accepted into the FDA’s Biomarker Qualification Program. This achievement underscores its potential to improve patient stratification and prediction of disease progression. In this interview, PROLIFIC Chair Peter Schafer discusses how the Risk Score works, the unmet needs it addresses, and its path toward full FDA qualification.

We are thrilled to welcome Dr Kulkarni to the touchREVIEWS in Respiratory & Pulmonary Diseases Editorial Board and look forward to her expertise, leadership and vision contributing to the continued growth and impact of the journal.